Has Anyone Had Any Experience with Hypnosis for Pain Relief?

pjetson on 06/04/2018 - 16:56

My doctor has suggested that I consider hypnosis for pain relief (I have osteo arthritis). Has anyone had any experience with this? I've booked a session to find out about whether they think they can help me, and I mentioned that I'm a bit skeptical. They said that's a common reaction, but to come in and talk to them and see what I think then.

My only "experience" with hypnosis is the rubbish that you see on TV. I'm not worried that I'll end up making chicken noises every time someone rings a bell, but what if it works and they make me believe that I like brussell sprouts? I shudder at that thought!

Does anyone have any direct experience with hypnosis for pain relief?

Health & Beauty

Comments

  • [Deactivated] on 06/04/2018 - 17:25
    +3

    From my casual reading, I've noted that hypnotherapy has had success, however, the success is measured by patients' report of satisfaction. Many of these articles do not pass the Cochrane standard as the metrics of success is subjective.

    AFAIK (in part due to lack of interest), neuroimaging in hypnotherapy is still speculative. There are suggestions that it has some impact based on changes in the imaging but the study models does not account for a few controls.

    Interesting (and promising) territory but I wouldn't call it solid science yet.

    Hyponosis to turn people into chickens is another thing entirely.

    • BertieBrown on 06/04/2018 - 20:00

      Well said.

      • Kangal on 06/04/2018 - 22:07

        Came to say this.
        I would say its mostly a Placebo.

        Just like most Alternative / Natural / Eastern Medications, they rely on pseudoscience and the gullibility of the patient.
        Here's an interesting look at Homeopathy

        • [Deactivated] on 06/04/2018 - 23:57
          +1

          Unlike homeopathy, neuroimaging proves that hypnotherapy isn't a placebo. There are measureable results and changes in brain pattern where it correlates sensory perception.

          It is, however, speculative to suggest the results correlate to pain management, let alone pain reduction. The case study and small sample data are in. The discussion is that the control parameters are flawed (ie. Does random noise/images also produce similar results) so at this point, a conclusion is premature.

  • [Deactivated] on 06/04/2018 - 17:26
    -2

    That means the Doctor thinks you’re being a sook.

    • pjetson on 06/04/2018 - 18:18

      If hypnosis doesn't help, the next step is Norspan (more or less morphine in patch form).

      • Chris Topher on 07/04/2018 - 16:35

        And even that patch with Endone doesn't always help…

        … for me, anyway.

        The main trouble with pain is that everybody feels it differently. Hypnotherapy may be beneficial for some, but we are talking about persistent (chronic) pain of which I suffer. Pain that perseveres long after an injury has healed or nerve pain, for example.

        I was only now (as I write this) informed of a drug called Pentosan Polysulphate Sodium from Germany via Paradigm BioPharmaceuticals. Do your own research, as I will.

  • EightImmortals on 06/04/2018 - 17:41

    The stuff you see on TV is crap, you will be completely aware and in control at ALL times during the session and can stop the process at anytime, not that you'd want to. Once you've had a few sessions you can have a go at using what you've learned to overcome the pain on your own.

    Another approach along similar but different lines is to look into the self-control techniques taught by Wim Hoff (google him and his accomplishments).

  • Diji1 on 06/04/2018 - 18:31

    Pretty sure hypnosis is just relaxation and visualising things that you want with a guide.

    The idea that you can get people to act without any unawareness of being manipulated or control people is story tellers making things exciting and dangerous.

    • kahn on 06/04/2018 - 18:35
      +1

      get people to act without any unawareness of being manipulated or control people

      How do you explain the Liberal Party's invasion of Iraq then?

      • EightImmortals on 06/04/2018 - 18:40
        +1

        Controlling the mindless masses is not hard to do and is pretty much a science these days. Totally different from hypnotising an individual. :)

        • kahn on 06/04/2018 - 18:45
          +1

          Thank you, Mr Goebbels.

        • EightImmortals on 06/04/2018 - 19:38

          @kahn: That's Mr Bernays to you. :)

    • BertieBrown on 06/04/2018 - 20:01

      Yeah the idea that hypnosis can be used to render people into chickens is utter bullshit.

      • TheBilly on 07/04/2018 - 07:19

        utter bullshit

        yes, hypnosis is.

  • kahn on 06/04/2018 - 18:33
    +5

    My experience has been in sports hypnotherapy.

    An interim sports coach used a hypnotist in an attempt to improve a player's performance. However, the hypnotist made the player think he was a chicken because that's just how they roll. Needless to say, the coach was furious and confronted the hypnotist. However, it was a futile effort because as soon as the hypnotist noticed the coach's anger, he took out his pocket watch and told the coach "But I did a good job…a good job." As you can guess, the coach's demeanor completely changed when he stated "Well, it's not your fault, you did a good job." To make matters worse, there was also the matter of Ken Griffey's grotesquely swollen jaw.

    Good times.

    • altomic on 06/04/2018 - 19:33
      +2

      we're talking Homer.
      Ozzie and the Straw.

  • [Deactivated] on 06/04/2018 - 20:40

    Some minds are not susceptible to hypnotic suggestion.

  • burningrage on 06/04/2018 - 23:52

    Need hypnosis to resist Ozb impulse spending urges lol

    • [Deactivated] on 06/04/2018 - 23:59

      My credit card statements are all the hypnosis I need. :(

  • jelko on 07/04/2018 - 01:34

    My dad used hypnosis to quit smoking. He had been a regular smoker for most of his life and in his 50s my mum convinced him to see a hypnotist. I don't know what occurred but after a couple of sessions he stopped smoking. He hasn't smoked since. The strange thing is that my dad didn't speak fluent English (he immigrated to Australia in his 30s) and the hypnotist was a regular Australian so whatever he said must have worked subconsciously.

    • [Deactivated] on 07/04/2018 - 09:05

      Must have told him the cost of the typical number of sessions.

  • TheBilly on 07/04/2018 - 07:17
    +1

    Just smoke weed. If this is the season for stupid ideas from skilled professionals, Im sure you can consider smoking a joint here and there as its much more real. Or at the very least hemp oil on your joints.

    • EightImmortals on 07/04/2018 - 07:37

      If only that wouldn't bring the Gestapo down around his ears?

  • Flamo on 07/04/2018 - 09:23

    As a person also with osteoarthritis, I would be very skeptical of hypnosis providing any sort of pain relief. The best thing I've found (apart from weed) is Dencorub arthritis cream, which provides some decent, but short lived relief. It's not like deep heat or ice gel, sort of panadol-type relief.

    I know it's totally (profanity) having osteoarthritis and it's such a deep, persistent pain. I've tried a lot of different medication with no success.

    With all that said, if you decide to go ahead with the hypno anyway please report back.

  • [Deactivated] on 07/04/2018 - 19:41

    Try EMDR

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